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Chansi Stuckey Christopher Gooley/US PRESSWIRE

The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Tommy Bowden (8th season, 52-33) 2005 record: 8-4 (Beat Colorado in Champs Sports Bowl) ACC finish: 4-4 (3rd Atlantic) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 50th (153.0 ypg) Passing: 45th (231.6 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 25th (120.6 ypg) Passing: 29th (196.0 ypg) Date Opponent Sept. 2 Florida Atlantic Sept. 9 at Boston College Sept. 16 at Florida State Sept. 23 North Carolina Sept. 30 Louisiana Tech Oct. 7 at Wake Forest Oct. 14 at Temple Oct. 21 Georgia Tech Oct. 26 at Virginia Tech Nov. 4 Maryland Nov. 11 NC State Nov. 25 South Carolina Depth Chart: Offense 8 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 2 Chansi Stuckey Sr. 26 La’Donte Harris Jr. WR 80 Aaron Kelly So. 6 Jacoby Ford Fr. WR 5 Rendrick Taylor So. 13 Tyler Grisham So. LT 79 Barry Richardson Jr. 76 Cory Lambert Fr. LG 72 Roman Fry Sr. 68 Chris McDuffie Jr. C 62 Dustin Fry Sr. 71 Barry Humphries Fr. RG 63 Nathan Bennett Sr. 74 Brandon Pilgrim Jr. RT 75 Marion Dukes Sr. 73 Tim DeBeer Sr. TE 89 Thomas Hunter Sr. 84 Akeem Robinson So. QB 14 Will Proctor Sr. 10 Cullen Harper So. TB 1 James Davis So. 37 Reggie Merriweather Sr. Depth Chart: Defense 7 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 94 Phillip Merling So. - Jamie Cumbie Fr. DT 91 Rashaad Jackson So. 50 Jock McKissic So. NG 44 Donnell Clark Sr. 97 Dorell Scott So. BAN 93 Gaines Adams Sr. - Ricky Sapp Fr. SLB 20 Tramaine Billie Sr. 43 Antonio Clay So. MLB 40 Anthony Waters Sr. 33 Kavell Conner Fr. WLB 32 Nick Watkins Jr. 47 Josh Miller So. CB 3 Duane Coleman Sr. 15 Sergio Gilliam Sr. CB 12 C.J. Gaddis Jr. 29 Haydrian Lewis So. CAT 25 Michael Hamlin So. 27 Sadat Chambers Fr. FS 22 Chris Clemons So. 23 Chris Russell Jr. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 7 Jad Dean Sr. P 30 Cole Chason Sr. KR 6 Jacoby Ford Fr. PR 6 Jacoby Ford Fr.

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Not long ago, a feeling of resignation permeated Clemson. The Tigers, who once dominated the ACC but had long since fallen behind Florida State, were watching other programs surpass them. With Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College entering the fray, Clemson's climb to the top of the ACC seemed ever more unlikely.

Those gloomy days, last experienced during the 2004 season, seem long gone now. Thanks to an infusion of new ideas, better talent and upgraded facilities, there's now optimism for a team that seems capable of claiming its first ACC title since 1991.

Clemson closed last season by winning four consecutive games, and six of its last seven, to finish 8-4. Those four losses were by a combined 14 points, showing the Tigers just how close they came to greatness.

On several occasions during coach Tommy Bowden's seven-year tenure, the Tigers have seemed a long way from ACC contention. Now they appear as poised as ever to challenge for their first-ever BCS berth.

OFFENSE

Clemson's offense could be even better despite the departure of record-setting quarterback Charlie Whitehurst.

Offensive coordinator Rob Spence's style is more suited to senior Will Proctor, a mobile quarterback and one of the team's best athletes. The only question is whether he'll be able to squeeze in throws against some of the ACC's faster defenses.

Tailback James Davis earned ACC Rookie of the Year honors despite missing substantial time with a broken wrist. Incoming freshman C.J. Spiller is expected to play right away. And don't forget dependable senior Reggie Merriweather. The running lanes should be plentiful thanks to an offensive line that returns all five starters and nine of its top 10 players.

The Tigers are deeper and more talented at receiver, where senior Chansi Stuckey earned first-team All-ACC honors last season. Sophomore Aaron Kelly, lightly recruited out of high school, evokes comparisons to former Tigers star Derrick Hamilton.

Rendrick Taylor (6-foot-1, 225 pounds) will see his role significantly expanded as a sophomore. Incoming freshman Jacoby Ford has tremendous speed and will be a threat on bubble screens and end-arounds.

DEFENSE

The big issues on this side of the ball are cornerback and depth at defensive end. Tye Hill left a major hole at corner, where Duane Coleman and C.J. Gaddis are listed as the starters. This time last year, these two were playing different positions -- Coleman at tailback, and Gaddis at safety.

The Tigers are in excellent shape with Gaines Adams and Phillip Merling returning at the two end positions. But there's no proven depth, and freshmen Ricky Sapp and Jamie Cumbie will be looked at right away.

Anthony Waters anchors a fast, physical group of linebackers that could be the Tigers' best in years. Like Adams, Waters contemplated skipping his senior year and heading to the NFL. And like Adams, he opted to remain, giving defensive coordinator Vic Koenning a solid nucleus of leadership.

The defense struggled early last season but made a dramatic turnaround in the final seven games. Barring injuries, there shouldn't be a big drop-off this year.

SPECIALISTS

Clemson's return game was lethargic for most of last season, but that could change with the addition of Ford. Clemson had five punts blocked in 2005, leading coach Tommy Bowden to change punt formations. Senior Cole Chason is feeling the heat at punter after a miserable season. Senior placekicker Jad Dean, a finalist for the Lou Groza Award last year, has a powerful leg.

FINAL ANALYSIS

There is plenty of optimism in Tigertown, and for good reason. The offense settled for way too many field goals, but the red zone fortunes should improve with Proctor's ability to burn defenses with his feet. Spence should also feel more comfortable as a play-caller in his second year.

The conference schedule doesn't offer many favors. Clemson doesn't face Miami, but its three toughest games -- Florida State, Virginia Tech and Boston College -- are on the road. The Tigers face the Eagles and Seminoles in back-to-back weeks in September, and the trip to Blacksburg is on a Thursday night -- five days after Georgia Tech visits Clemson.

If the Tigers split on their trips to Boston and Tallahassee, they will be in good position to make another late-season run and challenge for the Atlantic Division title.